PUBLIC RELATIONS COORDINATOR

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

Public Relations Coordinator

Chicago Police Department

Office of Communications and News Affairs

Number of Positions: 2

(Additional vacancies possible pending budget approval)

Starting Salary: $80,628 Annually

Applications for this position will be accepted until 11:59pm CDT on 06/03/2025

Under direction, plans and directs the public relations or public education functions of a City department; and performs related duties as required

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Prepares and edits speeches for departmental executive personnel
• Arranges interviews of department managers for media appearances
• Serves as departmental spokesperson in responding to inquiries from the media
• Gather information for public release
• Organize press conferences to inform the public of newsworthy items
• Coordinates the preparation and editing of digital media to promote the work of the department
• Directs and participates in the preparation of the department's annual report
• Works closely with the other departments, including the Mayor's Office in order to draft departmental correspondence and to coordinate and promote programs and initiatives
• Utilizes digital media platforms to communicate department programs, events and services, or outreach initiatives
• Notifies appropriate staff and drafts notices for upcoming press conferences
• Prepares narrative and activity reports of communication, public information, and outreach activities

Additional duties may be required for this position

Location: Public Safety Headquarters, 3510 S. Michigan Avenue

Days: Monday - Friday

Hours: 8:30AM - 4:30PM

THIS POSITION IS IN THE CAREER SERVICE

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Nine (9) years of experience in the development and implementation of media relations or public information programs, of which two (2) years are in a supervisory role related to the responsibilities of the position, OR
• Graduation from an accredited college with an Associate's degree in Journalism, Communications or a directly related field, plus at least seven (7) years of experience in the development and implementation of public information programs, of which two (2) years are in a supervisory role related to the responsibilities of the position, OR
• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in Journalism, Communications or a directly related field, plus at least five (5) years of experience in the development and implementation of public information programs, of which two (2) years are in a supervisory role related to the responsibilities of the position, OR
• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master's degree or higher in Journalism, Communications or a directly related field, plus at least four (4) years of experience in the development and implementation of public information programs, of which two (2) years are in a supervisory role related to the responsibilities of the position

NOTE: Candidates must pass a background investigation, drug screen, and other pre-employment procedures

as determined by the Chicago Police Department

SELECTION REQUIREMENTS

This position requires applicants to complete an interview which will include a writing exercise and/or a skills assessment test as part of the interview. The interviewed candidate(s) possessing the qualifications best suited to fulfill the responsibilities of the position, based on the oral and written parts of the interview will be selected.

Preference will be given to candidates possessing the following:

* Experience working with local Chicago media

* Strong understanding of social media platforms and trends

* Experience crafting digital media

* Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and written

For Information on our employees benefits please visit our benefits website at:

https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/fin/benefits-office.html

For Information on our salary and title structure visit our classifications website at:

https://www.chicago.gov/content/dam/city/depts/dhr/supp_info/JobClassification/2025_Classification_and_Pay_Plan.pdf

APPLICATION EVALUATION: Initial evaluation will be based on information provided on the application and the documents submitted. The Department of Human Resource staff will review applications after the final posting date. Staff will follow any and all required Employment/Hiring Plan provisions, federal, state and local laws, and Collective Bargaining Agreements when applicable. Staff will apply hiring preferences as required by the municipal code. Placement on an eligibility list is not an offer or guarantee of an interview nor employment with the City of Chicago.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY: To further our commitment to hiring applicants with diverse experience the City of Chicago has adopted the following ordinances 2-74-020 and 2-74-075. The ordinances provide a preference to applicants who meet minimum qualifications and who are veterans of the Armed Forces, and/or residents of Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Areas (SEDA) and/or Chicago Public School (CPS) high school graduates to be referred to departments for consideration. These hiring preferences do not apply to bidders, as Collective Bargaining Agreements define the hiring process for bidders. For positions covered by a collective bargaining agreement, bidders will be considered before external candidates. To learn more about our hiring practices click here.

ALL REFERENCES TO POLITICAL SPONSORSHIP OR RECOMMENDATION MUST BE OMITTED FROM ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS SUBMITTED FOR CITY EMPLOYMENT.

The City of Chicago is an Equal Employment Opportunity, Military Friendly, and Fair Chance Employer.

City of Chicago

Brandon Johnson, Mayor